"I will tell you whatever you wish to know Solnishka." When he offered his hand to me, I sighed and took it. Will it be the truth though? Warmth spread through me, calming my racing thoughts, chasing away the fear and doubt that still lingered. Though I knew it shouldn't, at least not anymore, his touch always comforted me, calming the storm of my emotions.

My hand clasped with his glowed dimly and I gasped. Odd, I'd only glowed like this when he pulled my power to the surface with his amplification, yet I felt no pull on my power. I'd never glowed with a mere touch before, not even during our…interlude earlier. I chanced a glance up at him, not waiting to meet those intense onyx eyes quite yet. He was staring at our joined hands almost mesmerized. His thumb brushed along my knuckles, and they glowed brighter for a moment. His lips curled into a pleased smile. He is entirely too handsome. It's unfair.

My Alina is so beautiful... I tried not to jump at the voice in my head, his voice. He hadn't moved, hadn't looked at me, I knew he hadn't said anything aloud. What the hell was that? His dark eyes snapped to me, a strange look on his face. His eyes roved over my face, mirroring my own confusion.

Alina.

I pulled away as if he'd burned me, my glowing stopping abruptly as I dropped his hand. The panic came rushing back and I backed away out of reach, my breath quickening. What the hell was going on? Why can I hear him in my head? Was it some sort of trick? And Why do I feel like a piece of me was missing now. Aleksander didn't move, looking almost dejected at the loss of contact, of that strange connection.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, I've never experienced such a thing before." He offered his hand again, but I couldn't bring myself to take it. It was too much. I forced myself back to his side, careful not to touch him this time. Is it too late to make a run for it?

He lead us back the way he'd come, seemingly lost in thought, though I caught him glancing my way more than once. The silence was driving me mad, allowing no distractions to my racing fears. Had I made the right choice? Could I trust anything he said? I can believe it had been a manipulation in the beginning, but could it really still be?

"If I wanted to leave right now, would you let me go?"

"Alina, it is not safe, there is a price on your head."

"That is not an answer, General." I turned back from the window I had marched to as soon as we entered the war room. I hadn't really been paying attention to anything outside but it had given me an excuse to distance myself from him. He had leaned against the war table, and told his tale. He told me of Baghra, creating the fold, hiding and fighting for hundreds of years to protect his people, his grandfathers journals, the stag and his plan, Mal and my letters, and finally of Marie. It'd taken all of my willpower to keep myself together. It was too much to comprehend. How could one person have lived so long, lived through so much? He hadn't moved the entire time, though his shadows had pulsed and darkened the room as he spoke. I fought the urge to push them away with my light, I was still tired from that strange standoff with Baghra. He doesn't deserve my comfort anyway. He's a liar.

"I will not let any harm come to you, Alina. I can't risk losing you, you are too important to us...to me. I will always protect you, no matter the cost or how much you hate me for it." And I believed him. A pretty collar to keep me 'protected' and bound to you. Forever a slave and forever by your side. The things he would do in the name of keeping me safe, terrified me.

I was reminded of the first night I'd come to him in this war room. He'd looked almost lost, just as he did now. Leaning against that table. The very same table he'd had me pressed against earlier, kissing me breathless, nearly devouring me with his intensity. It felt so right. Nothing had ever felt so right before. Who knows how far things would've gone if we hadn't been interrupted. I certainly hadn't planned on stopping. The almost desperate way he pressed against me, made me sure he didn't either.

I tried not to focus on that train of thought. I focused on my anger instead, it was simpler, familiar, and there was so much of it. The collar. Genya. Mal. All the lies.

"So your solution is to lie to me and keep me here against my will? I am not some toy you can lock away forever!" Only taking me out when you want to play with me. Angry tears filled my eyes and I swiped them away quickly.

I watched him warily when he pushed himself away from the war table and approached slowly. My breath hitched in my throat as he came close, too close. Not close enough. I wanted-no needed-him close, like I needed air. And I hated him for it. He manipulated me, lied to me, and I still wanted him.

I found myself strangely disappointed when all he did was take my hand again, watching a soft glow seep from me, not meeting my eyes.

"Do you wish to leave us Alina?" Leave me?

"I-I don't know. Maybe." No. I was surprised at how truly I wanted to stay. I'd found friends in this strange place, people I would protect with my life. I'd finally found a place I could feel like myself, a place to not only belong but to thrive. A home, a family. I don't want to lose that again. I don't want to be alone anymore. The hand holding mine tightened and drew me closer.

"You will always have a home here Alina, you will always have us. You will not be alone. We are your family. We have always been your family." I won't ever leave you.

You won't let me leave you.

"Your plan to use the stag to control me, control my power, Is that how you'll protect me?" I tried to pull away, tried to put some much needed distance between us, to hold onto my anger, but he held my hand firmly in his own. His other hand curled underneath my chin, pulling me up to look into his eyes. I tried to ignore the pleased shiver his proximity elicited, and the strange traitorous glow that now lit my face as well as our hands.

"I've had plans in place for centuries. I planned for any, and every, way to sway the sun summoner to my side, willingly or not. I've accounted for nearly every possible outcome. How to earn her forgiveness once it was done, though that was less certain. I've planned for everything, Except for you." I did not expect to feel the way I do for you. All my carefully laid plans, gone, as soon as I touched you. I knew immediately. You are mine, Alina. Mine. Made in the heart of the world, for me. My other half. And I am yours, Milaya. Forever. I shivered, a rush of longing and want burning through me, his or mine, I couldn't be sure.

"Alina, you must believe me when I tell you I would not do it now. Those plans were for a girl I'd never met, a legend I was not even sure existed, not you. Your power is your own. I will not take it from you." I won't hurt you.

Too late for that.

I had to pull away again, the depth of his emotion too much to handle. Or is it my own feelings I wanted to hide from? It didn't matter. I needed to get away. I could feel the breakdown coming on, and I didn't want to be anywhere near him when it finally hit.

"I can't do this now. This is not over, not even close. I just need to think." He nodded, and that rush of longing burned through me again, tinged with pain and guilt, gone as quickly as it'd come. I turned away, making my way to the door.

"Goodnight Alina."